Rachel Griffiths to join the cast of Wentworth: Halfway Home

Acclaimed Aussie actor Rachel Griffiths has been confirmed as a new cast member for the upcoming Wentworth spin-off series Wentworth: Halfway Home.

She will be playing a new character named Moira, described as a “glamorous new resident at Sal’s Halfway House’. Moira had been convicted of fraud and paroled after serving three years of a five-year sentence, following a whirlwind second marriage to a high-society man. However, after his death, their fortune was revealed to be an elaborate criminal scheme.

“Moira is a delicious character to bring to life and is going shake things up at the house,” Rachel says.

“I am so excited to be working with such an amazing group of actors and creatives and being part of the iconic Wentworth world is going to be a lot of fun.”

Another newcomer joining the cast is Sophie Lowe who plays a former stalker named Sam.

Sam became obsessed with an ex-lover and found herself receiving charges over a break-in an assault. Now at Sal’s Halfway House, she’s finally found stability but struggles to shake off that vengeful streak.

Griffiths and Lowe will be joining three fan-favourite characters making a come back: Nicole da Silva as Franky Doyle, Kate Box as Lou Kelly and Katrina Milosevic as Susan ‘Boomer’ Jenkins.

“Lou Kelly is out!” Kate teases to TV WEEK. “You’ll find out how but god, it was a well woven adventure to get her out because she’s not the most trustworthy citizen so popping her back on the pavement seems like a massive risk. It’s really fun finding this woman who had found this circus master energy inside this prison, to see where that sits in the bigger world.”

Plus, previously announced new characters Dee (Alex King) and Lily (Chenile Chandler), whose backstory we’re yet to learn.

BINGE has previously confirmed that production for the long-awaited series kicked off in Melbourne on Monday, July 27, with the series set to air later this year.

In Wentworth: Halfway Home, Boomer has recently got parole and is determined to get on the right path and get full custody of her daughter. But when a body appears out of nowhere, Boomer worries about who she can trust when she’s living in a house filled with former inmates.

While incarceration was hard for our fan-favourites, they’ll soon discover that staying out of jail might just be harder.

“This new series explores life on the outside where the stakes are higher, and the risk of losing it all is ever present,” says Carly Heaton, Executive Producer and Head of Scripted at Fremantle.

“We have assembled a stellar group of cast and creatives to bring this extension of the Wentworth universe to life with some heritage fan favourites alongside a new group of fascinating characters all seeking redemption and fighting for survival outside the walls.”

In case you missed it, back in February, BINGE confirmed that the spin-off was in the works during the AACTA Awards following a tribute to the show’s legacy led by Danielle Cormack, who played Bea Smith.

Later, the streamer shared that the upcoming series would go beyond the prison walls and into the real world, centred around former inmates as they live on parole. In a statement, BINGE claimed that the series will “draw elements from Wentworth” whilst “forging its own narrative”.

‘The next iteration honors everything fans loved about the world, while opening the door to a new era of formidable and compelling characters driven by fresh, provocative storylines,’ said Lana Greenhalgh, Director of Scripted Originals, Foxtel Group, said back in February.

While BINGE have kept their cards close to their chest when it comes to more specific storylines and plot, we’re hoping that Wentworth: Halfway Home will bring the same brilliant writing and captivating performances that saw the series win six TV WEEK Logies Awards during its eight season run.